Tag: Chicago Cubs

This has been a sad week due to the death of Red Schoendiest. Red will always be remembered as Mr. Cardinal. Stan Musial was the heart of the Cardinals, but Red was the soul. Not only was he a great player and a great manager, but he was a wonderful person as well. We will always remember Red fondly. There will never be another person like Red. There are some wonderful articles about Red in today’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch – if you are not a St. Louis local, you can find the articles on www.stltoday.com.

Don’t you wish that the Cards could play the Reds every game? (Well, except for today’s game, which broke a long winning streak.) The Cardinals come back home tomorrow night for a series against the San Diego Padres and then the Cubs come back to town for a weekend series. Saturday night’s game is on the regular FOX channel and Sunday’s night game is once again on ESPN. Hopefully, the ESPN team will be nicer to us this time. Here’s all the details about the next homestand:

ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 10, 2018 – The Cardinals return to Busch Stadium after a quick three-game road trip to Cincinnati. The six-game homestand kicks off with a three-game series against the San Diego Padres (June 11-13) and concludes with three games versus NL Central rivals the Chicago Cubs (June 15-17). The sixth homestand of the season is highlighted by Star Wars Night and Teachers Night. Additionally, fans are encouraged to vote online for Cardinals players for the 2018 All-Star Game in Washington D.C. at cardinals.com/vote. #VoteSTL

Monday, June 11, 2018 — Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres (7:15 p.m.)

Gates open at 5:45 p.m.

Teachers Night: Kick off summer break at Busch Stadium for Teachers Night! With the purchase of a special Theme Ticket, fans will receive an exclusive teachers-themed Cardinals t-shirt. To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/teachersnight. #CardsTheme

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 — Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres (7:15 p.m.)

Gates open at 5:45 p.m.

Y98’s Courtney & Company Night:Join your favorite morning show ladies and gents for happy hour at Courtney and Company Night. For just $20, you’ll receive a Courtney and Company t-shirt, one drink voucher and a ticket to the game. Courtney, Jen, Kevin, Tim and Lance will be hanging out for happy hour with fans. To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/Y98. #CardsTheme

Bowmaniacs: Matt Bowman will host a group from KEEN St. Louis for tonight’s game as part of his Bowmaniacs player ticket program.

Cardinals Care Stadium Auction:Auction tables will be located at Gates 1 and 3, inside the Cardinals Club, UMB Champions Club and Redbird Club for fans and collectors to obtain specialty Cardinals items while helping support the programs that Cardinals Care provides to youth in the community. #CardsCare

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 — Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres (7:15 p.m.)

Gates open at 5:15 p.m.

Star Wars Night: Join us for Star Wars Night at the ballpark where Busch Stadium will be transformed with Star Wars-themed sights and sounds. Fans who purchased the special Star Wars Theme Ticket will receive a one-of-a-kind Star Wars-themed Cardinals jersey featuring birds on a light saber. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold will be donated to Stand Up 2 Cancer. Star Wars characters will be roaming throughout the ballpark for photo opportunities and a Star Wars truck will be displayed in Ford Plaza! Star Wars Theme Tickets are sold out. For more information, visit cardinals.com/starwars. #CardsTheme

Wainwright’s Winners: Adam Wainwright will host a group from Angels’ Arms for tonight’s game as part of his Wainwright’s Winners player ticket program.

Hailey Dawson Ceremonial First Pitch: Hailey Dawson, an 8-year-old girl born with Poland Syndrome, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Hailey was born without a right pectoral muscle and is missing the three middle fingers on her right hand. As a result, Hailey utilizes a robotic hand developed by the UNLV Engineering Department. Hailey, a Las Vegas resident, is on a quest to throw a first pitch for all 30 MLB teams. The club will be Hailey’s 14th different team in addition to throwing out a first pitch at Game 4 of the 2017 World Series.

Friday, June 15, 2018 — Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs (7:15 p.m.)

MLB Network Showcase National Broadcast (out-of-market only)

Gates open at 5:15 p.m.

Cardinals en Español: Tonight’s game will be broadcast over the radio in Spanish by Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina. The Spanish broadcast will air locally on WIJR 880 AM and be streamed via cardinals.com & the MLB.com At Bat mobile app. #STLCardenales

Artifact Spotlight: Before every Friday home game, the Cardinals Museum highlights artifacts in the collection not currently on display during a pregame presentation inside the Museum at 3:00 & 3:30. Today’s featured item relates to Cardinals in the movies. To purchase museum tickets, visit cardinals.com/museum.#CardsMuseum

Flashback Friday: Before every Friday home game at 4:00 p.m., the Cardinals Museum will host a presentation about Cardinals history or a museum-related topic from one of the Museum’s staff members, a former player or a visiting author. Today’s presentation will be hosted by Museum Curator, Paula Homan, about the origin and evolution of Cardinals logos. To purchase museum tickets, visit cardinals.com/museum. #CardsMuseum

Cardinals Care Stadium Auction:Auction tables will be located inside the Cardinals Club, UMB Champions Club and Redbird Club for fans and collectors to obtain specialty Cardinals items while helping support the programs that Cardinals Care provides to youth in the community. #CardsCare

MLBPAA Auction: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gates 1 and 3 through the fifth inning. All proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care and the MLBPAA.

Saturday, June 16, 2018 — Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs (7:15 p.m.)

FOX Baseball Night in America National Broadcast

Gates open at 5:15 p.m.

Saturday Signings at the Museum: Former Cardinals pitcher Josh Kinney will sign autographs at the Cardinals Museum from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Visit cardinals.com/museum for more information.

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition: Nathan’s Famous will host a local regional qualifier for their Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest at 6:00 p.m. in the Ford Plaza. The top male and female finishers in this event will qualify for a seat at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn where they will face reigning champion Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo.

Cardinals en Español: Today’s game will be broadcast over the radio in Spanish by Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina. The Spanish broadcast will air locally on WIJR 880 AM and be streamed via cardinals.com & the MLB.com At Bat mobile app. #STLCardenales

MLBPAA Auction: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1, Gate 3 and inside the Cardinals Club through the fifth inning. All proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care and the MLBPAA.

Cardinals en Español: Today’s game will be broadcast over the radio in Spanish by Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina. The Spanish broadcast will air locally on WIJR 880 AM and be streamed via cardinals.com & the MLB.com At Bat mobile app. #STLCardenales

MLBPAA Auction: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1, Gate 3 and inside the Cardinals Club through the fifth inning. All proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care and the MLBPAA.

The ESPN crew came to St. Louis to broadcast last evening’s Cards-Cubs game. But the ESPN crew acted like only the Cubs were there. Hello, ESPN – there was another team in last night’s game. But you sure wouldn’t have known it by watching the game.

The whole ESPN broadcast last night was a Cubs lovefest. ESPN spoke with Joe Madden, while Mike Matheny wasn’t even spoken to and barely mentioned. Between innings, the ESPN team started talking about Kris Bryant. The game resumed and they were still talking about Kris Bryant. We didn’t know what was happening in the game. When the game starts, go back to the game! Otherwise, why broadcast the game at all? This season, the Cardinals have many players deserving of a few minutes of ESPN’s time to tell their stories to a national audience, but none were given. Stephen Piscotty was mentioned, but only because SportsCenter was running a special after the game about Stephen and his mother, who suffered from ALS.

There was no mention of the storied rivalry between the Cubs and the Cards at all, which is probably the reason that ESPN broadcast this game. There was a brief mention of Yadier Molina’s horrific injury during Saturday’s game (please get well soon, Yadi, and do listen to your doctors!). I realize the Cubs won a World Series a couple of years ago, and the Cards haven’t won one since 2011. But the Cards have won 9 more World Series than the Cubs (and the World Series wins weren’t over 100 years apart either).

What ESPN also failed to mention was that the Cardinals are currently in first place in the National League Central. Chicago is currently in fourth place. I can maybe see being all lovey- dovey over the Cubs if they were in first place, but they are not.

I can only imagine how the ESPN team reacted to Dexter Fowler’s hitting the walk-off home run in the 14th inning to win the game and sweep the Cubs, since it was 1 AM and I was already in bed. But given the rest of the evening’s coverage, I’m sure it was less than enthusiastic. They probably focused more on Justin Heyward not catching the ball than the Fowler home run.

Unfortunately, Cards fans should be used to the Cardinals being ignored by the national media by now. ESPN’s non-coverage is doing a real disservice to Cardinals fans who live in other areas of the United States. Unless they purchase MLB.TV, or live close enough to another major league stadium that the Cards play in, they have no chance to watch the Cards play live. A national broadcast gives them that opportunity. Let’s hope that ESPN shapes up by July 29, their next broadcast of a Cards-Cubs game.

I mentioned Stephen Piscotty and his mother earlier in this post. Sadly, Gretchen Piscotty diedtoday at the young age of 55 from ALS. My prayers and condolences are with Stephen and all of the Piscotty family. If you would like to contribute to ALS research in honor of Mrs. Piscotty, click here. Mother’s Day is this Sunday – if your mother is still alive, give Mom a call and tell her that you love her (and send her flowers!), or better yet, spend some time with her. Mom carried you around in her womb for 9 months and raised you up right, so the least you can do is say thanks and tell her you love her. Husbands, don’t forget to do nice things for your wives who gave birth to those kids and trained them up right.

The title, of course, is set to the tune of “Bill Bailey.” (And if you don’t know that classic song, well, Google it. Or ask Alexa or Siri.) Old Man Winter obviously can’t read, or he would see that today’s date is April 18 and realize that it is well past time for him to go back to the North (or South) Pole. Snowballs and baseballs are roughly the same size, but this time of year, we would rather see baseballs being thrown than snowballs. The weather gets warmer for a few days, fooling us into thinking that spring is finally here; then Old Man Winter returns, making the weather windy, cold and sometimes snowy. Old Man Winter doesn’t know he’s outstayed his welcome.

Twenty-five Major League games have been postponed this season due to inclement weather, including today’s Cards-Cubs game, which was rescheduled for tomorrow. Even closed-in stadiums were not exempt – one of the Blue Jays’ games had to be postponed due to a leaky roof. The Cards-Cubs game that was cancelled on Monday due to inclement weather is scheduled to be played as part of a twi-night doubleheader on July 21. It will hopefully be warmer by then. I do recall, however, attending a Camera Night game in July at Busch Stadium II when the temperature was so cool that we were all wearing jackets.

I can’t remember a season when so many games have been postponed or rescheduled in the first month of the season due to the weather. So much for global warming! It’s so sad to see our boys with the hooded sweatshirts under their uniforms and caps, trying to stay warm. Sweatshirts are expected during playoff season in the fall, when it normally is cooler. But in April? What have we done to Mother Nature to make her hold back Spring? There’s a reason that spring training is held in Florida and Arizona. Usually, the teams bring the warm weather up North when they return. I will be attending both Saturday and Sunday’s games at Busch Stadium and the temperatures are projected to be in the low 60’s. It should be in the high 60’s by now.

It’s not good for the players to play in such cold conditions. It makes the muscles tight and prone to injury. Tommy Pham pulled a groin muscle during last night’s game. The cold weather might have contributed to that injury. The cold weather conditions also doesn’t make the baseballs fly like they would if the weather was warmer. In addition, if the weather is cold, the fans won’t come to the stadium, and concession profits are lost.

So is this season an anomaly? Could all these postponements/cancellations happen again next year? The weather can’t be predicted a year out, but maybe MLB could schedule games to prevent snow-outs/cold-outs/ice-outs. How is that possible, you ask? I’m (almost) certain that all of the game schedules are drawn up by computers by now.

Here’s my proposal:

All games in March and the first 3 weeks of April should be held in stadiums in warmer climes or in stadiums with roofs.

The exception to number 1 would be an early April homestand for each team for the home opener. The fans deserve an April home opener; they’ve waited six months for baseball. There will be a scheduled day off after the home opener, in case the home opener is rained out, snowed out, or it’s just too darn cold to play. The Cards already do this, but I’m not sure if other teams do.

Surely MLB can arrange the schedules so that the late March/early-to-mid-April games can be played at the stadiums located in warmer climes or that have a closed-in roof, and those teams are listed in Column A below. The teams listed in Column B are the teams that don’t have the necessary attributes for Column A.

American League:

AB

Rays Yankees

Rangers Indians

Athletics Orioles

Angels Royals

Twins White Sox

Mariners Red Sox

Astros Tigers

Blue Jays

National League:

AB

Braves Mets

Padres Phillies

Dodgers Pirates

Diamondbacks Nationals

Brewers Reds

Marlins Cards

Giants Cubs

Rockies

You will note that there is an extra team in Column B for both leagues. MLB will have to do a juggling act with the schedules, but that’s what computers are for. Maybe the Blue Jays could play at the Rockies’ stadium for a quick interleague matchup to even things up. Any other plan has got to be better than all the cancelled/postponed games this month. In addition, when it gets hot in the South and the West during the summer, perhaps those teams could visit the northern and the eastern teams and play in the cooler climes.

The Cards will be back home on Friday for a six game homestand. Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate and boot Old Man Winter back home. I’ll have the homestand highlights in my next post. Until then, thanks for reading! See you next time!

Tomorrow is the day we Cardinals fans have been waiting for since the end of last season – Opening Day 2017! If you want to get technical, it’s actually Opening Night, since tomorrow’s game will be a 7:35 PM game. There’s a full schedule of events happening tomorrow before the game even starts. Although we do not have tickets to the game, we will be going to the pep rally. I hope to do a Periscope from the pep rally tomorrow, so follow me on Twitter (you mean you don’t already?) so you can catch that.

There are lots of other changes at Busch Stadium this season, including some new security rules, so even if you’re not going to the game tomorrow, you may want to read that section so you’ll be prepared. Here are all the details on tomorrow’s festivities:

2017 OPENING DAY IN ST. LOUIS — APRIL 2, 2017

125th Anniversary of Franchise Highlights Opening Day

A pregame ceremony that welcomes home the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals team, honors the club’s Hall of Famers, commemorates the great tradition of Opening Day in St. Louis and kicks off the Cardinals 125th anniversary in the National League will punctuate a day of activities celebrating the annual return of baseball on Sunday, April 2. The Cardinals will take on the division rival Chicago Cubs in a 7:35 p.m. game on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast. Following is a schedule of official activities and information to help fans enjoy the unofficial holiday that is #OpeningDaySTL:

Pregame Schedule

12:00 – 2:00 p.m.:One Nation Pep Rally at Ballpark Village

Kick off the day with a St. Louis Blues Pep Rally on the outdoor Busch II Infield stage and adjacent parking lot! Fun includes a mascot appearance by Louie from 12-12:30 p.m., a DJ from the stage, giveaways and additional Blues entertainment. Enter Ballpark Village’s on-site giveaway by completing a data card by 1:30 p.m. for a chance to win an autographed jersey, puck or one of two autographed sticks. One lucky winner will receive the ultimate #OneNation prize pack that will feature two tickets to both the Blues game vs. Nashville at 3:00 p.m. and to Opening Day to see the Cardinals take on the Cubs at 7:35 p.m. on the Budweiser Brew House Rooftop deck.

2:00 – 4:45 p.m.: Opening Day Pep Rally at Ballpark Village

Join Kyle McClellan, FOX Sports announcers and DJ Todd Thomas at the outdoor Busch II Infield stage and adjacent parking lot for the Cardinals Opening Day Pep Rally. This event is free for all fans to attend and will proceed rain or shine. Fredbird and Team Fredbird will be on hand to give away Opening Day tickets and other Cardinals prizes. Food and drinks will be available for purchase as well.

Cardinals Nation will host the Official Pre-Game Party of the St. Louis Cardinals. This ticketed pep-rally style party is located on the second floor of Cardinals Nation in the Hall of Fame Club, two and a half hours prior to every Cardinals home game during the 2017 season. The exclusive pre-game event includes a full buffet menu, all-inclusive bar and a DJ or live music all the way until first pitch. Tickets for the Opening Day Official Pre-Game Party are currently sold out. Tickets for future Pre-Game Parties can be purchased at cardinals.com/pregame, at any Busch Stadium box office or at the Cardinals Museum.

Introduction of the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals via Ford Motorcade. The players will ride in 2017 Ford F-150 Raptors.

Introduction of the Chicago Cubs.

Color Guard and American Flag in center field, courtesy of the service men and women of Ft. Leonard Wood.

The National Anthem will be performed by Ingrid Berry, daughter of the late St. Louis legend Chuck Berry.

Ceremonial First Pitch by John Tudor to Tim McCarver.

7:35 p.m.: Game Time! Play ball!

Watching on TV

Fans can watch the pregame ceremony in High Definition on FOX Sports Midwest beginning at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Radio Coverage

Fans can tune into KMOX (1120 AM) or one of the 155 stations in the Cardinals Radio Network to hear Mike Shannon and John Rooney call the game. The expanded pregame show starts at 5:55 p.m.

Online or On The Go

Fans may also follow the game for free on cardinals.com using the Gameday application or via the team’s Twitter account (@Cardinals). Fans can keep tabs on the score from their mobile device using MLB’s mobile app, At Bat 17.

Opening Day Ceremonies will be streamed live on the FOX Sports GO app and at FOXSportsGo.com, available to customers of participating pay television providers who receive FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports South & FOX Sports Southwest Plus (in Cardinals territory).

#CapsOn for Opening Day

The Cardinals and Major League Baseball are celebrating Opening Day by encouraging all baseball fans to wear caps on Opening Day whether they are attending the game, going to work or watching from home. Show your support for the Redbirds on April 2 by wearing your Cardinals cap no matter where you are and posting a photo to social media with the hashtag#CapsOn.

Getting To The Game

Per the Missouri Department of Transportation, motorists should be aware of the following on-going road closures:

I-44, St. Louis City, one lane closed westbound I-44/southbound I-55 from the Poplar Street Bridge to Park through July.

I-44, St. Louis City, the ramp from 7th Street to westbound I-44 is closed through July.

I-55, Jefferson County, one lane closed northbound I-55 at Route Z through April 3.

As usual, Clark Street will be closed in between the stadium and Ballpark Village.

Alternative Transportation

MetroLink is a convenient alternative to driving. To avoid the traffic congestion and the cost of parking on game days, fans can use one of 21 free Park-Ride lots along the MetroLink line and take the train to Stadium Station, right across the street from the ballpark. MetroLink will have additional security and personnel located throughout the light rail system to assist passengers on Sunday. MetroLink will also be monitoring platforms for crowds and will add extra trains to service as need. Check the Metro’s website MetroStLouis.org or download the Metro On The Go mobile app for schedules and Park-Ride lots nearest you.

There are also plenty of buses in Missouri and Illinois that will get fans to Busch Stadium including the Redbird Express that departs from the Water Tower at St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, Illinois. On Opening Day, the Redbird Express bus will leave at 5:00 p.m. MetroBus is another great option for getting to downtown St. Louis on Sunday. Fans can catch the #40 Broadway or #99 Downtown Trolley, which both have stops near Busch Stadium.

Update on Prohibited Items & Bag Inspection Policy

Fans are still allowed to bring their own food and beverages into Busch Stadium for all 81 games. However, there are some items that will no longer be permitted to be brought through the gates. Outside cups (e.g. fast food/gas stations cups), mugs and thermoses are prohibited. All drinks must be factory sealed, in clear plastic bottles no larger than two (2) liters.

Multi-compartment backpacks are no longer permitted inside the ballpark. Duffel bags, tote bags, cinch bags, diaper bags and purses no larger than 16” x 16” x 8” are still allowed. Additionally, ice packs are prohibited unless required for a medical condition. Fans can still bring loose ice to keep food and beverages cold. For a full list of permitted and prohibited items, visit cardinals.com/security.

Ballpark Improvements for 2017

A number of physical improvements have been made within Busch Stadium to improve the fan experience:

Perficient Red Jacket Club: Busch Stadium’s newest all-inclusive area, the Perficient Red Jacket Club is located on the suite level down the right field line and will accommodate both individual and group purchases with a capacity of 115 tickets. The club features a bright, contemporary design and décor highlighting and honoring Cardinals Hall of Famer. Ticket holders will have exclusive access to a private climate controlled indoor lounge, reserved outdoor seating, a complimentary full service bar featuring mixed drinks, beer, wine and Coca-Cola products and an upscale, all-you-can-eat buffet. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit cardinals.com/redjacketclub.

Family Pavilion: The Family Pavilion, located in centerfield, has undergone a complete remodel. The newly designed family area will feature a Kids Kitchen concession stand featuring kid sized portion along with exclusive menu options such as animal crackers and Rice Krispie treats. The new Family Pavilion will also feature a Virtual Reality area with interactive games, a toddler play area, a play structure that will circulate out into the concourse, an updated speed pitch cage and a mother’s nursing room.

New Audio: 150 speakers were installed throughout the ballpark in order to bring game audio and public announcements to various parts of the stadium. Game audio will be heard throughout the main concourse, the suite levels and the loge level. New sound systems were installed in the Ford Plaza, Riverview Corner in right field and the Left Field Pavilion as well.

Broadway Market: A second grab-and-go shop has been added in front of the Gate 6 entrance. The self-serve, pay at the register store gives fans the option to purchase a variety of soda, beer, water, dry snacks, novelty ice cream, and premade sandwiches and salads in a quick and efficient manner without having to wait in concession lines.

Legends Club (Party Suites): Fans that purchase all-inclusive Legends Club Suite tickets will now have access to complimentary full service bars that will include mixed drinks, wine and craft beers. Additionally, the Suite Level hallways and entrances to the Legend Club Suites have been remodeled and feature additional overhead lightning and Cardinals-theme artwork on the walls.

Protective Netting: The protective netting behind home plate has been extended to the ends of each dugout closest to the outfield wall. Previously the netting extended to the end of the dugout closest to home plate.

New Grass: Fresh new Kentucky Bluegrass was installed on the field in February. The grass was grown in Fort Morgan, Colorado.

Delaware North Sportservice, the club’s concessionaire for more than 50 years, is preparing to welcome fans back to Busch Stadium. Delaware North Executive Chef Larry Johnson and his culinary team have developed a few new menu items for the 2017 season, including:

Deluxe Sausages: Three different 1/3 pound links including our Old World Bratwurst, served with sauerkraut; our mild Italian Sausage, served with sautéed peppers and onions; and our medium heat Chorizo, served with sautéed peppers and onions. All deluxe sausages are served exclusively at our “Crowd The Plate” stand in Section 148 and can be purchased a la carte for $9 or as a combo with tater tots for $14.25.

The Redbird: The winner of our Fan Food Challenge, the Redbird is a crispy breaded chicken breast, tossed in buffalo wing sauce, topped with Provel cheese and served on an egg Kaiser roll. The Redbird will be served exclusively at our “Double Play Tap & Grill” stands located in Section 135 and the Perficient Perch in Section 359. Served with tater tots for $14.

New Cardinals Ballpark Pass

The Cardinals Ballpark Pass is a new ticket subscription service that gives fans the opportunity to attend as many Cardinals home games as they want each month for a monthly fee of $29.99. Subscribers will have a Standing Room ticket to each regular season game (except Opening Day) digitally delivered to their smartphone via the MLB.com Ballpark app. The subscription will automatically renew each month and subscribers can cancel at any time. To purchase the Cardinals Ballpark Pass or for more information, visit cardinals.com/pass.

Introducing the Cardinals Nation Food Truck

Serving a combination of ballpark fare and unique culinary creations, the Cardinals Nation Food Truck will be located at 8th and Clark on game days, and will hit the streets around the city for lunch service. The food truck menu consists of 10 entrée offerings including fan favorites from the Cardinals Nation Restaurant like the Cardinals Nation Nachos and Four Cheese Mac & Cheese, along with fun new selections such as Bacon Ribs and the Twisted Cheddar Brat. In addition to taking part in local fairs and festivals, the food truck will be available for corporate and social events, catering and will be part of the Cardinals outreach throughout the St. Louis community.

New Cardinals-branded apparel and merchandise for 2017 is available at the Official Cardinals Team Store and at the 15 portable retail carts around the ballpark. New on-field apparel includes Authentic Batting Practice Trainers by Majestic with player numbers on the sleeve. New men’s and women’s apparel is also available from popular brands such as Columbia, Levis, johnnie-O, Tommy Bahama, Under Armour, Nike and Stance.

The Official Cardinals Team Store is also the exclusive brick and mortar retailer of Adam Wainwright’s “Waino’s World” t-shirt. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each shirt will be donated to Cardinals Care and Big League Impact. The Team Store also offers a selection of nine different player replica home white jerseys from Majestic (Molina, Wainwright, Carpenter, Martinez, Fowler, Piscotty, Diaz, Grichuk and Oh). The Cardinals Team Store continues to offer hat embroidery and personalized jerseys and has a vast array of merchandise sizes from newborn to big and tall and everything in between. The Official Cardinals Team Store is open daily from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Cardinals Authentics Shop

Fans can visit one of the two Cardinals Authentics locations (inside Cardinals Nation and at Busch Stadium in Ford Plaza) to shop for authentic Cardinals gear and to take home a piece of the game. Cardinals Authentics specializes in official, game-used, limited edition and autographed memorabilia direct from the club. Both shops offer a great selection of current and vintage Cardinals apparel, as well as one-of-a-kind collectibles. The Cardinals Nation location is open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (April-October) and 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (November-March). On game nights, the Busch Stadium shop will remain open 30 minutes after last pitch while the Cardinals Nation shop will remain open for one hour after last pitch.

Cardinals Authentics will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1967 World Series Championship team by offering autographed pictures, baseballs and other memorabilia from Mike Shannon, Orlando Cepeda, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson and Red Schoendienst including a framed, limited edition, enlarged print of a World Series Game 4 ticket signed by all five players and a limited number (#’d to 67) of autographed and inscribed baseballs by Bob Gibson celebrating his three World Series wins. Cardinals Authentics will also commemorate the 125th anniversary of the franchise with unique collectible items as well.

Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum

Earlier this month, Steve Carlton, Keith Hernandez, Jason Isringhausen, Tim McCarver, Mark McGwire, Edgar Renteria and Scott Rolen were revealed as the seven players nominated for possible induction into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. The seven modern ballot nominees were selected by a “Red Ribbon” committee of Cardinals baseball experts through a secret ballot process and appear on the Cardinals Hall of Fame ballot online at cardinals.com/HOF presented by Edward Jones (#CardsHOF). The two players with the most online fan votes after voting concludes on April 14 will be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame this August.

The Cardinals have launched a new museum membership level for fans desiring the most premier level of benefits. Benefits of the Ultimate Cardinals Museum Membership include a bronze mini plaque engraved with the member’s name, an autographed bat and baseball from a Cardinals Hall of Famer, VIP seating for two at the Cardinals Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and much more.

The Cardinals are proud to continue to offer the Individual ($50) and Family ($85) Museum Membershipoptions for fans in 2017. Membership benefits include unlimited museum admission for one year, guest passes, limited edition bobbleheads of Dizzy Dean and Ted Simmons, discounts to the Cardinals Authentics Shop & Cardinals Nation Restaurant, and access to select presales and member-only events. Visit cardinals.com/membership for a detailed list of membership benefits.

This year’s new museum special exhibit entitled “Women in Baseball: How They Made History” examines women’s involvement and contributions to St. Louis baseball and the game at large. The exhibit features over 100 artifacts with important pieces and images on loan from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Missouri Historical Society. The exhibit tells stories about Major League Baseball’s first female owner, the origins of the iconic birds on the bat logo, local women from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and more. You can read my blog posts about this exhibit here and here.

Cardinals Insider with Ozzie Smith (#CardsInsider)

Cardinals Insider, the club’s weekly half-hour new magazine television show, made its season debut last Sunday with new host Ozzie Smith. Now in its second season, Cardinals Insider with Ozzie Smith is available within 17 television markets in eight states. Over the offseason, a new digital newsroom was constructed within the Cardinals press box to house the team’s multimedia video unit. Five full-time journalists were hired to provide fans with behind the scenes access and daily content for the team’s various digital and social platforms including cardinals.com, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

The show features a mix of news, player profiles, exclusive interviews, in-depth features, and a look back in team history with exclusive content from the team’s large archive and extensive museum collection. In addition to offering fans an unprecedented view behind the scenes with the team, the show also places a strong emphasis on fan engagement and leveraging the team’s social media to enrich the viewer experience. More information about the show, including previous episodes and a full list of affiliates, can be found at cardinals.com/insider.

2017 Fan Engagement Video Initiatives (#CardsFanFlix)

#CardsFanFlix is the St. Louis Cardinals ongoing fan engagement initiative developed to encourage fans to create videos that celebrate the team. Throughout the season, the Cardinals sponsor a variety of promotions, contests and campaigns under the umbrella of #CardsFanFlix asking fans to creatively use video to demonstrate their enthusiasm and support of the team while also having some fun:

The Third Annual Ultimate Fan Video Contest challenged fans to show their enthusiasm for the 2017 season while proving that they are the ultimate fan worthy of the ultimate opening day experience—four tickets in the President’s private box. Fans entered their submissions at cardinals.com/ultimatefan. The Cardinals are proud to announce that Gene Gaddis from Macomb, Ill. has won this year’s Ultimate Fan Contest. Gene’s winning video can be viewed at atmlb.com/2ojPhoO.

In November, the Cardinals launched the Second AnnualHigh School Video Challenge initiative offering high school students in the St. Louis metropolitan area an opportunity to compete for the chance to create a video featuring both Fredbird and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith at the students’ school. Students were asked to develop an original video that promotes the St. Louis Cardinals and the students’ high school while including a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design and Math (STEAM) curriculum connection. Five finalists were selected by Cardinals front office staff and employees of EducationPlus, which were then voted on by fans online atcardinals.com/studentvideochallenge. The Cardinals are happy to announce that the students from Owensville High School have won the High School Video Challenge! Their winning video entry can be seen at atmlb.com/2ok45nq.

The Second AnnualTake Me Out To The Ballgame Talent Video Contestwas launched in March, encouraging fans to submit videos of them singing their best rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The winning video, which will be selected by a fan vote, will be shown on the scoreboard at Busch Stadium before the Cardinals—Rockies game on July 26. The winner will also be treated to a VIP experience that includes 12 tickets to the game. Fans may submit their videos until May 21, followed by finalists being voted on by fans online from June 2-30 at cardinals.com/talent (winner to be announced July 3).

Cardinals Magazine Kicks Off 25th Anniversary Season

Cardinals Magazine opens its quarter-century anniversary campaign with a must-read feature on fan favorite Matt Carpenter, who is taking on new roles and responsibilities for his team in 2017. This April cover story features the ultimate compliment of No. 13 from “Charlie Hustle,” the incomparable Pete Rose, who describes Carpenter as his “favorite player” and someone he admires the way he plays the game. Speaking of those held in high regard, we sit down with Jose Oquendo, the man mentored by George Kissell and someone who will help develop the future of the franchise in his new role with the organization.

Page after page, fans will enjoy the breadth of stories in the season-opening edition. Take, for instance, the first installment of our season-long 50th anniversary celebration of the 1967 World Championship season where we detail the valuable contributions of Roger Maris, who brought his Yankee championship pedigree to the Cardinals. In keeping with our 25th anniversary season, you’ll love the beginning of our season-long “Pages From Our Past” section, where we’ll showcase the people, performances and franchise-defining moments we watched and wrote about over an ever-changing quarter-century of Cardinals baseball. You’ll also enjoy the debuts of three player-specific departments: #DearDexter, where the All-Star centerfielder answers questions from fans; The Lynn-Sider, a monthly column written by Lance Lynn; and East Meets West, featuring the views from opposite sides of the country from West Virginia native Jedd Gyorko and California kid Greg Garcia. And you’ll appreciate our detailed look at the promising wave of young talent in the farm system!

New for 2017, Cardinals Magazine is now available at several additional retail locations throughout Busch Stadium, including from vendors inside stadium gates, team store locations, portable red merchandise carts, Majestic and Cardinals Authentics stores inside Ballpark Village and the Cardinals Authentics Shop in Ford Plaza. Throughout metro St. Louis, the magazine is available for purchase at major retailers like Cardinals Clubhouse mall stores, Dierbergs, Schnucks, Shop ‘n Save, QuikTrip and Walgreens.

Print and digital subscriptions are available at cardinals.com/magazine or by calling 314-345-9000. If you sign up today, you’ll receive 2 free tickets to a 2017 home game. For additional team coverage, follow Cardinals Magazine on Twitter @CardsMagazine and watch our weekly segments on the Cardinals Insider TV show.

One of the longest-standing souvenirs in baseball, the scorecard represents much more than a means to keep track of the hits, runs and outs. It’s a tangible keepsake commemorating a game that may be memorable for any number reasons—a fan’s first game, a couple’s first date or a record-setting performance.

It’s no wonder that the first order of business at Busch Stadium for baseball’s best fans is a stop at a Cardinals Publications vendor cart to purchase the Official 2017 Cardinals Scorecard. Featuring the cover artwork of acclaimed St. Louis illustrator Mike Right—the scorecard designer since 2003—this season’s scorecard celebrates the franchise’s 125th anniversary logo paired with 12 Cardinals utilized by the club through the decades. Inside, you’ll find a tutorial on how to keep score the “Cardinal Way,” a method practiced by club officials since the 1940s.

The Cardinals official team Media Guide has long been relied upon by journalists and broadcasters who cover the team. Containing stats, photos and biographies of every player in the Cardinals organization, along with the definitive history of the club since its inception, the 2017 Media Guide is the most comprehensive book about the Cardinals. The 2017 Media Guide is available for $20 at the Official Cardinals Team Store, the Cardinals Authentics Shop or online at cardinals.com/mediaguide.

The Cardinals had the best record in spring training this year since 1997, although that season, they lost the first six games of the season. Let’s hope for a better result this year. I’m excited about this season, and I hope you are too. Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas (although Christmas is great) – it’s the postseason! Only 8 teams are good enough to compete in the postseason and the Cards, of course, are one of them.

By now, you hopefully have heard about the roster that Mike Matheny has set up for the NLDS. If you haven’t, you can click on the link here and listen to Mike read it for yourself. Notable players missing from the NLDS roster are Matt Adams, Peter Bourjos, Randy Choate and Steve Cishek. The roster consists of 11 pitchers and 14 position players. One of those position players is our favorite catcher Yadier Molina, and Cardinals fans everywhere are breathing a big sigh of relief. You may or may not agree with Mike’s selections, but then again, they don’t pay us to be the manager.

The Cards will be playing the Cubs in the NLDS for the first time. This is going to be a wild series. It should make for a very electric atmosphere. Hopefully, there will be no bench brawls like the one in last night’s wild card game. Hopefully, the fans will behave themselves (I think more the Cubs fans than the Cards fans – Cards fans have more class). And hopefully, the Cubs will play cleanly and not try to injure any of the Cards’ players. Yours truly will be at Game 1 tomorrow evening. I am so excited, I may not be able to sleep tonight! It is the first playoff game I have ever attended in my over 40 years of being a Cardinals fan. Since my son Phillip has a job now, he purchased our tickets – thanks, son! I can now mark this off my Cardinals bucket list. We will be at the pep rally prior to the game, so look me up!

Speaking of pep rallies, here are all the details about the NLDS and everything that’s going on at Busch Stadium before and after the games, along with some reminders about attending games at Busch Stadium. There are some new food items and new postseason merchandise.

2015 NLDS at BUSCH STADIUM

St. Louis Cardinals – Chicago Cubs

How fans can enjoy the historic Division Series matchup and rally support for the Cardinals

ST. LOUIS, October 08, 2015 – For the third consecutive year, the Cardinals clinched a Central Division championship and punched a ticket back to the National League Division Series. With the best record in baseball, the Cardinals hold home-field advantage for the best-of-five series against the division rival Chicago Cubs. The 11-time World Champion Cardinals are making their fifth consecutive postseason appearance and the 28th postseason appearance in franchise history (#12inSTL). This is the first time in history the Cardinals and Cubs will face each other in the postseason. While there are currently no remaining tickets available for the Division Series games at Busch, fans are encouraged to check back atcardinals.com/postseason or visit our partner site, StubHub.com. Here are details on how fans can enjoy postseason baseball in St. Louis.

Official Cardinals Pep Rally in Ballpark Village Lot, located at Clark and Eighth Street; begins approximately 4 hours prior to first pitch and lasts 2 ½ hours

Music by DJ Todd Thomas, entertainment, prizes, and more

Appearances by Fredbird, Team Fredbird, a former Cardinal player and the FOX Sports Midwest broadcasters

Gates will open approximately 2 ½ hours prior to first pitch

40,000 fans receive a Cardinals rally towel courtesy of Phillips 66

More info to come

Watching On TV

Fans can watch the Cardinals’ National League Division Series games on TBS. For channel information, check your local listings. FOX Sports Midwest, the TV home of the Cardinals, will produce postgame shows after all postseason games. Pat Parris will anchor from the network’s Ballpark Village studio, with a rotation of analysts that includes Al Hrabosky, Rick Horton, Jim Edmonds and Brad Thompson.

Radio Coverage

Fans can tune into the flagship station KMOX (1120 AM) and the 140 Cardinals Radio Network stations to hear Mike Shannon & John Rooney call the games. Mike Claiborne will also provide interviews throughout the series. The Cardinals Radio Network pre-game and post-game shows will be hosted by KMOX’s Chris Hrabe from Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village. The national broadcast of the NLDS games can also be heard on ESPN Radio (101.1 FM) or SiriusXM Radio.

Social Media

Fans participating in the postseason action on social media can follow the Cardinals at Facebook.com/Cardinals, on Twitter (@Cardinals), on Instagram (@Cardinals) and more. Join the social conversation using #12inSTL.

The Cardinals have also launched a unique #12inStL Fan Video Rally encouraging fans of all ages to rally behind the team during the 2015 Postseason by sharing videos demonstrating their spirit, enthusiasm and support for the team’s quest for a 12th World Series Championship. The first five hundred fans who share a video with the team this postseason will be sent two complimentary official #12inStL Cardinals Rally Bands. For more info visit cardinals.com/fanflix.

Online Or On The Go

Fans can follow every Cardinals Postseason game for free on cardinals.com on their computers and laptops using MLB.com Gameday. The MLB.com At Bat mobile application is the most popular way to follow live Cardinals games on-the-go with scores, stats, schedules, news and analysis. During this year’s Postseason games in the National League, a subscription to At Bat Premium offers fans live radio broadcasts, replay reviews, Statcast, Postseason.TV, video highlights and more. Cardinals fans can download MLB.com At Bat on their favorite smartphones or tablets by visiting the app store or MLB.com.

Driving To The Games

MoDOT has limited roadwork when the Cardinals are at home during the National League Division Playoffs. Currently, fans can expect no significant traffic impacts due to construction on Missouri interstates heading into Busch Stadium or heading home.

Alternative Transportation

MetroLink is a convenient alternative to driving, allowing fans to avoid the cost of parking and game day traffic. Fans can park at any one of 21 free Metro Park-Ride lots in Missouri and Illinois and ride the train to the Stadium MetroLink Station, right across the street from the ballpark. Check the Metro website MetroStLouis.org for schedules and to find the Park-Ride lot nearest you. There are also plenty of buses in Missouri and Illinois that will get fans to Busch Stadium, including the Redbird Express that departs from the Water Tower at St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, Illinois. The first Redbird Express leaves 2 1/2 hours before the game and runs approximately every 5 minutes.

The Hill Slugger: 24” DiGregorio local Italian Sausage wrapped in hand-stretched pizza dough, topped with melted butter and Parmesan, and served with a side of marinara (Section 152 and Redbird Club pizza stand)

Postseason Merchandise

Busch Stadium Team Store: The Team Store will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. In addition to standard merchandise, the store will also carry exclusive postseason and Central Division Champions merchandise including hats, t-shirts, pennants, pins and more. A variety of items are also available in ladies and youth sizes. Fans can also buy official t-shirts and hoodies, just like the players wear (#BuschStadiumTeamStore).

Cardinals Authentics: Cardinals Authentics is the only place to get official, game-used, limited edition and autographed Cardinals memorabilia directly from the team. Featured items include game-used baseballs, bases, bats and jerseys from the 2015 season, 11X World Series Champions themed items, and exclusive autographed memorabilia. Known as the store where every piece tells a story, Cardinals Authentics has a variety of items to fit every budget. The Cardinals Authentics Store located inside Busch Stadium at Ford Plaza is open 2 hours before game time and a half hour after the game ends. The Cardinals Authentics Shop located inside Cardinals Nation at Ballpark Village is open 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (or one hour after the game ends) every day of the week. To take home a piece of the game, follow them on Twitter at @CardsAuthentics (#CardsAuthentics) and shop online at cardinalsauthentics.com to take home a piece of the game.

Cardinals Magazine and Cardinals Yearbook: Celebrate the Cardinals’ return to the postseason by purchasing three keepsake items at Busch Stadium during the Division Series.The new Cardinals Magazine features Yadier Molina, whose work behind the plate guiding baseball’s best starting staff in the regular season garnered praise from teammates, coaches and opponents who all shared insights into baseball’s best defensive catcher.The 2015 Cardinals Yearbook celebrates the history of Cards’ uniform numbers and the legends who made them famous. This 224-page keepsake also includes action and studio portraits of the 2015 Cardinals. Fans can also still pick up the 2015 Scorecard featuring beautiful retro cover art on the cover, team rosters inside and detailed instructions on how to score the “Cardinal Way.”The magazine ($5), yearbook ($15) and scorecard ($2.50) are available at the newly refurbished Cardinals Publications vendor carts inside each stadium gate, at cardinals.com/publications, or 314.345.9000. The magazine and yearbook are also on sale at the team store, Cardinals Authentics, and area retailers like Schnucks, Dierbergs, QT, Walgreens and Cardinals Clubhouse (#CardsMag, #CardsYearbook).

Support Cardinals Care

Throughout the postseason, fans will have multiple opportunities to support Cardinals Care, the charitable arm of the team and organization.

Cardinals Care 50/50 Raffle: Fans, ages 18 and older, may play the Cardinals Care 50/50 Raffle by going to any of the seven ticket kiosk locations throughout the stadium from the time gates open until the middle of the 7th inning. One lucky fan will receive 50 percent of the gross proceeds from the game’s raffle ticket donations, and the other half will benefit Cardinals Care, the team’s charitable foundation that helps children. For more info and kiosk locations, visit cardinals.com/5050. (#Raffle4Kids)

Cardinals Care Stadium Auction: Fans have the unique opportunity to bid on exclusive autographed Cardinals memorabilia at every postseason home game. The auction is a great way for fans and collectors alike to obtain specialty Cardinals items while helping support the programs that Cardinals Care provides to youth in the community. The auction tables will be located at Gate 3, Gate 1, Cardinals Club, UMB Champions Club, and in the Redbird Club.

Cardinals Nation Restaurant & Bar

Cardinals Nation, the team’s two-story restaurant in Ballpark Village, rolled out a variety of new menu items and specials just in time for the 2015 postseason (#CardsNation).

G&W Grill: The fan-favorite G&W Grill will be outside Cardinals Nation every home game serving up St. Louis’ favorite G&W Bratwursts and hot dogs. There will also be a satellite location inside the Pep Rally.

Live Music: Stick around after every postseason home game for free live music in the Hall of Fame Club, on the 2nd floor of Cardinals Nation.

Friday, October 9 – Borderline

Saturday, October 10 – Carrie and the Catapults

Thursday, October 15 – Borderline (if game is played)

Giveaways: On home game days, Cardinals Nation will have postseason rally towels and koozies for fans.

Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum

Before every postseason game, the Cardinals Hall of Fame will host an Artifact Spotlight giving Museum visitors the chance to see postseason-themed artifacts in the collection not currently on display. On Friday, the presentation is scheduled from 3-3:30 p.m. Saturday’s presentation is scheduled from 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. Thursday is TBD. These programs are free with paid admission to the museum. For more information or to purchase tickets to the museum, visit cardinals.com/museum (#CardsMuseum).

Ballpark Village

Ballpark Village is the home of the official Cardinals Postseason Away Game Watch Parties replicating the game-day excitement of Busch Stadium for fans while the team is on the road. Fans will enjoy pep rally entertainment, complete with celebrity emcee, games and limited appearances by Fredbird and Team Fredbird. Giveaways include cowbells, thundersticks and megaphones. Learn more here.

Bob Gibson Book Signing: Cardinals Hall of Famer Bob Gibson is coming to Ballpark Village to share and sign his new book PITCH BY PITCH: My View of One Unforgettable Game at the Budwesier Brew House Sunday, October 11, from 2- 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss the FREE live on-stage interview by sports broadcaster Dan McLaughlin followed by a ticketed book signing. Learn more here.

Standard game-day bag inspection policies for Busch Stadium are in effect. Bags will be allowed that meet Major League Baseball’s standard size restriction (16” x 16”x 8”), and all bags will be inspected prior to entry.

As a reminder, the Cardinals and Major League Baseball have implemented the use of walk through metal detectors at all entrances to Busch Stadium to ensure the safety of all guests. As part of the process, guests will have to remove cell phones, cameras and other large metal objects before passing through the detectors. Guests in wheelchairs and those with medical devices that may set off the detector are subject to alternative screening methods. Guests will still be required to have their bags inspected prior to entering the stadium.

Guests will be permitted to bring small personal cameras as long as they do not obstruct other guest’s view and will be subject to inspection. No professional-sized photography equipment, including tripods and monopods, will be allowed except for members of the media with proper MLB Postseason credentials.

Non-alcoholic beverages such as water & soda in open cups or in clear plastic bottles no larger than 2 liters are allowed.

Small banners and signs are allowed. Banners may be displayed as long as they do not hinder or interfere with a ball in play or distract or interfere with the view of another guest. Banners may not be displayed in fair territory, be obscene or in poor taste, attract abuse or cause a disturbance among other guests. They should be baseball-oriented and not commercial in nature.

Please minimize items you bring into the stadium to speed up the inspection process.

Expect long lines upon entry and allow yourself plenty of time to go through the inspection process.

Exit/Re-entry Policy

Exit/re-entry will only be allowed starting at game time and extending through the end of the 7th inning. Guests wishing to leave the stadium, but planning to return during the same game must have their hand and ticket stamped at Gate4 only as they exit the stadium. Guests will also receive a re-entry card which they must show with their stamped ticket and stamped hand upon re-entry. Inspection and Guest Screening policy will also be enforced.

No Smoking Policy

Standard Busch Stadium Smoking Policy is in effect. Busch Stadium is a smoke-free facility. Exit/re-Entry turnstiles will be set up at Gate 4 to allow fans access in and out of the stadium if they wish to smoke. Guests must have their hand and ticket stamped at Gate 4 as they exit the stadium. Guests will also receive a re-entry card which they must show with their stamped ticket and stamped hand upon re-entry. Inspection and Guest Screening policy will also be enforced.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2015 SEASON

The Cardinals completed their 124th season of play in the National League with an 100-62 mark, the top mark in the majors. The team won the N.L. Central for the 11th time and for the 3rd consecutive season, as they qualified for the postseason for a 5th consecutive season – the 1st time in franchise history to have done so.

The Cardinals are meeting the Chicago Cubs for the first time ever in postseason play. The Cardinals were 11-8 against the Cubs this season, going 7-3 at Busch Stadium & 4-5 at Wrigley Field. The Cards trail their all-time series with the Cubs, 1,147-1,197. St. Louis is 53-36 (.596) at home against the Cubs since 2006 when Busch Stadium III opened; they are 446-512-2 (.466) all-time at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals won a Busch Stadium III record 55 home games, tying the L.A. Dodgers for the top home mark in the majors. The Cardinals have won an N.L.-best 491 home games since moving into Busch Stadium III in 2006.

The Cardinals put together the 75th winning season (+.500) in franchise history. The Cardinals have now compiled eight consecutive winning seasons, doing so for only the 2nd time in franchise history.

The Cardinals were the first team in the majors to clinch a spot in the postseason, doing so for a franchise-record fifth consecutive season and in each of the four seasons that Manager Mike Matheny has been at the helm.

With 100 wins this season, the Cardinals are just the ninth team in franchise history to reach the century mark in wins (1942 – 106; 1943, 1944, & 2004 – 105; 1931, 1967, 1985 – 101; 2005 & 2015 – 100). They are the major’s first 100-win team since Philadelphia in 2011 (102).

The Cardinals were 32-23 in one-run games, 15-15 in shutouts, and 8-8 in extra-inning games.

The Cardinals had a N.L. best +121 runs scored differential (647-525), second only to the Toronto Blue Jays (+222).

The Cardinals allowed the 2nd fewest home runs (123) in the majors, with Pittsburgh allowing the fewest (110).

The Cardinals’ 70 postseason wins since 1996 are 2nd in the majors (NY Yankees, 97).

Mike Matheny is the first manager in Major League history to take his team to the postseason in each of his first four full seasons. The Cardinals are 375-273 under Matheny, owning the majors’ top winning percentage (.579) in that four-season span (2012-15) and they have also appeared in a Major League-high 39 postseason games.

The Cardinals finished a three game series with the Chicago Cubs today, and I’m sure they’re glad that they will be back at Busch Stadium tomorrow. The Cards only won one game of the three game series, which was today’s game. The once-friendly rivalry between the Cards and the Cubs (the history of which I’ve written about here) has turned rather nasty this season, and it came to a head this weekend.

Joe Maddon, the Cubs’ manager, said the Cards were a “vigilante group.” To borrow a quote from the movie The Princess Bride, “I do not think that word means what you think it means.” Per Dictionary.com, the word “vigilante” (as a noun) means “anypersonwhotakesthelawintohisorherownhands,asby avengingacrime.” I hardly think Matt Belisle’s brushing the back of Anthony Rizzo’s knee with a pitch could be considered a vigilante action. Rizzo crowds the plate anyway, which naturally results in being hit by pitches.

Maddon should take a look at his own team. Chris Coghlan took out Pittsburgh’s talented second baseman Jung Ho Kang by sliding into him spikes up, fracturing Jung’s leg and tearing his meniscus, ending his season. Anthony Rizzo slid into home in the 8th inning of today’s game and hit Yadier Molina’s thumb with his foot. Yadi made the tag, but immediately dropped his glove, obviously in pain. Yadi has a sprained thumb and will have a MRI tomorrow. Hopefully, he won’t miss any time – we need him for the playoffs. (Although Tony Cruz did throw out a runner at second in the bottom of the 9th.)

Perhaps Maddon is trying very hard to have the storyline in Back to the Future II of the Cubs winning the World Series in 2015 come true. (Derrick Gould of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote a very good story of how that storyline came to be, and you can read it here.) Of course, that movie also has the ALCS winner as Miami, which we know is in the National League. Personally, I’m still waiting on the hoverboard and the shoes with the self-tying laces.

There was some good news this weekend – the Cards qualified for the playoffs on Saturday, thanks to the Giants’ loss. Should the Cards play the Cubs in the wild card play-in game, it would thankfully happen in Busch Stadium, because of the Cards’ records. If I were a Cards player, I would not want to have to play that wild card play-in game in Chicago. Unless that game happens, the Cards are thankfully done playing the Cubs this season.

The last homestand of the season starts tomorrow night, and my son and I will be at the game tomorrow night, thanks to the $5 McDonald’s tickets. If you’re at the game tomorrow night, come by section 233 and say hi.

The Cardinals play the Cubs tonight for the first time this season. This short 2 game series takes place at the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field. The Cubs won’t be visiting the lovely, lush fields of Busch Stadium until June 17.

I live in southwestern Illinois, and when some people discover I’m a Cardinals fan, they say, “Well, you live in Illinois, so why aren’t you a Cubs fan?” For two reasons: 1. St. Louis is much closer to where I live than Chicago; and 2. Why would I, as a baseball fan, want to swear my allegiance and loyalty to perpetual losers like the Cubs? Then there’s the whole upstate Illinois/downstate Illinois thing, but that’s not relevant to this discussion.

It’s a friendly rivalry for sure, unlike the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees, whose fans can be nasty and vicious at times. Cards fans drive up Highway 55 to see their team play at Wrigley Field and vice versa for the Cubs fans. The geographical closeness between the two cities make for a natural rivalry. When there’s a Cards/Cubs game at Busch, you will hear friendly razzing between the fans.

Occasionally, there will be a relationship where one spouse is a Cubs fan and the other spouse is a Cards fan. That makes me shake my head – why would you marry someone who doesn’t love the same baseball team you do? Love conquers all, I guess. Family members’ loyalties are sometimes split between the Cards and the Cubs, especially in central Illinois where the games of both teams are broadcast.

Let’s face it – the Cards have the upper hand in this rivalry. The Cards have won 11 World Series and the Cubs have won 2. The Cubs have a baby bear on their uniforms while the Cards have the beautiful birds on a bat, with the word “Cardinals” in red script (or “St. Louis” on the alternative jerseys). The Cards are playing in nice new Busch Stadium III, while the Cubs play in stodgy old Wrigley Field. The Cards also have more Gold Glover winners than the Cubs.

Several Cards players were once Cubs players, and vice versa. The most famous of these was the Ernie Broglio for Lou Brock trade on June 15, 1964. Some players who played for both teams include Bruce Sutter, Ryan Theriot, Joe Girardi, Rogers Hornsby, Dizzy Dean and Dennis Eckersley.

I got to wondering just how this rivalry started, so I thought I’d do a little research. The rivalry actually started before the Cardinals and Cubs were even teams. The economic trade rivalry between St. Louis and Chicago led to the founding of the Brown Stockings (STL) and the White Stockings (Chicago) in 1875. The Brown Stockings dissolved but reformed as the Browns in 1882 and they played the Cubs (White Stockings) in a couple of pre-World Series matchups between the American Association St. Louis and Chicago teams. The first series meeting between the two teams were in 1885.

When the American Association folded, the Browns moved to the National League and became the Cardinals. The Cubs dominated during 1906-1908, winning 3 straight pennants and 2 World Series (and they haven’t won a World Series since 1908). The Cardinals finally got it together and won their first World Series in 1926. The Cards have been winning World Series and pennants ever since, unlike the Cubs, whose last won a pennant in 1945, thanks to the Curse of the Billy Goat.

In 2002, Darryl Kile died on a Saturday when the Cards were to play the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Then-Cub 1B Joe Girardi (who became a Card for a while and who is now the Yankees’ manager) announced the news that there would be no game that day due to “a tragedy in the Cardinals family.” In 2007, the Cards were to play the Cubs when Josh Hancock died in a automobile accident and this game was postponed as well.

I have enjoyed the Cards-Cubs rivalry over the years. I once worked for an attorney who was a Cubs fan, because he grew up in Iowa. For Christmas one year, I got him a Cubs t-shirt. When his son was born, I bought him a photo frame with the saying, “Future Cubs Fan.” I work for an attorney now that is from Chicago, but he’s a White Sox fan. I told him I would really have given him grief if he had been a Cubs fan.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at the Cards-Cubs rivalry. If you have any fun stories about the Cards-Cubs rivalry, please share by posting a comment. Thanks for reading! See you next time!